Elevating apparatus of an exercise treadmill

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an elevating apparatus of an exercise treadmill. The elevating apparatus utilizes a servomotor to drive a transmission spindle into rotation by means of a gearbox, thereby driving a slide shaft to move to and fro between two base bars of the main frame. At least two lift shafts are pivotably connected to one end of the slide shafts while the other end thereof is pivotably connected to folding bars. Either folding bar is L-shaped and includes a first, a second and a third pivoting members. Moreover, the first pivoting member is pivotally mounted on the deck, the second pivoting member is pivotally mounted on the main frame and the third pivoting member is selectively pivotally attached to the deck by means of a latch. Accordingly, when the third pivoting member is separated from the deck, the elevating apparatus will perform an elevating action to be located at an inclined position. And when the third pivoting member is positioned in the pivoting hole of the deck, the elevating apparatus will perform a folding action to be located at a substantially upright position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to an exercise treadmill, and moreparticularly, to an exercise treadmill whose deck is selectively raisedor lowered for temporary storage or for use during an exercise session.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] The conventional exercise treadmill is used for in-place walking,jogging, and running exercise. In order to promote its functions, anelevator assembly for a fold-up treadmill, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, isdeveloped. The elevator assembly comprising two elevating tubes, aconnecting rod, two slide rails, a drive apparatus and a telescopic rodis interposed between a deck and a base. The telescopic rod is driven bythe drive apparatus into rotation so that a spindle makes a telescopicmovement in a sleeve for extending and retracting the connecting rod.Accordingly, the elevating tubes pivotably move along a bottom rod ofthe base for elevating the deck. However, the elevating action of thisconventional assembly takes a longer time, thereby increasing the loadof the motor during the transmission session and shortening theoperational life thereof. In addition, the spindle is inclinedlydisposed in the sleeve for the telescopic movement while the other endof the sleeve is attached to the connecting rod so that the spindleshakes with the increasing length to the sleeve when the telescopic rodextends and retracts the connecting rod.

[0005] Furthermore, the aforementioned treadmill only provides theelevating function to the deck. However, the deck has to be manuallyfolded for storage or transportation. It's inconvenient, time-wastingand energy-wasting. Although the exercise treadmill with a foldable deckfor storage and for use during an exercise session is available on themarket, it is configured with two motors and two drive units. As aresult, its configuration is complex and its production is costly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is a primary object of the present invention to provide anelevating apparatus for an exercise treadmill by which an elevating anda folding function are available to meet different requirements ofusers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The accomplishment of this and other objects of the inventionwill become apparent from the following description and its accompanyingdrawings of which:

[0008]FIG. 1 is a side view of the present invention after assembly

[0009]FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the present invention after assembly;

[0010]FIG. 3 is a side view of the present invention elevated for useduring an exercise session;

[0011]FIG. 4 is a side view of the present invention elevated fortemporary storage;

[0012]FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing of a conventional elevatingapparatus before the raising action; and

[0013]FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing of a conventional elevatingapparatus after the raising action.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0014] First of all, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the elevating apparatusof an exercise treadmill in accordance with the present inventionincludes a main frame 10, a deck 20, a deck transmission assembly 30 andan elevating apparatus 40.

[0015] The main frame 10 includes a U-shaped handrail 11 and twoopposing base bars 12. A control panel 13 is mounted on the U-shapedhandrail 11 while each of base bars 12 includes a slide rail 121 atopposing sides thereof.

[0016] The deck 20 positioned between two base bars 12 of the main body10 comprises a running bed 21 and a running belt 22.

[0017] The deck transmission assembly 30 arranged on the deck 20includes a main motor 31, a belt wheel 32 and a primary transmissionshaft 33 and a secondary transmission shaft 34. The main motor 31 drivesthe belt wheel 32 for continuously rotating a running belt 22.

[0018] The folding mechanism 40 includes a transmission spindle 41driven by a servomotor 42 and a gearbox 43. A slide shaft 44, two liftshafts 45 and two folding bars 46 are provided and driven by thetransmission spindle 41 to make a to-and-fro sliding movement.

[0019] One end of the transmission spindle 41 is inserted through athreaded hole 441 to be pivotably connected to the slide shaft 44.

[0020] The slide shaft 44 includes a roller 48 at either end thereof.The roller 48 are positioned on the slide rails 121 of the main frame10. Moreover, one end of either lift shaft 45 is pivotally mounted tothe slide shaft 44 while the other end thereof is pivotably attached tothe folding bars 46 by means that a fixing shaft 47 is laterallyprovided.

[0021] Either folding bar 46 is L-shaped and includes a first, a secondand a third pivoting members 461, 462, 463. The first pivoting member461 is pivotally mounted on the deck 20 and the second pivoting member462 is pivotally mounted on the main frame 10 while the third pivotingmember 463 is selectively pivotally attached to the deck 20 by means ofa latch 49. A pivoting head 491 is extended at one end of the latch 49and fits a pivoting hole 23 at one side of the deck 20.

[0022] Accordingly, referring to FIG. 3, when the third pivoting member463 of the folding bars 46 is separated from the deck 20, the slideshaft 44 is driven for a to-and-fro movement by means of the elevatingapparatus 40 such that the front end of the deck 20 folds up to aninclined position. Moreover, when the third pivoting member 463 ispositioned in the pivoting hole 23 of the deck 20, the to-and-fromovement of the slide shaft 44 allows the rear end of the deck 20 tofold up to a substantially upright position (see FIG. 4).

[0023] As described above, the advantage of the present invention liesin that the deck 20 can be selectively lifted or folded only by means ofthe elevating apparatus 40. Moreover, a larger incline of the deck 20 iscreated only by a little movement of the slide shaft 44. Therefore, thepresent invention is more practical and progressive than theconventional products.

[0024] In order to avoid false actions during the elevating or foldingsession of the deck 20, an electronic sensor 24 is provided at thepivoting hole 23 of the deck 20 and is connected to the power supplysystem (not shown) of the main motor. Accordingly, when the electronicsensor 24 is touched by the latch 49, the main motor 31 will beimmediately switched off.

[0025] Furthermore, a limit switch 25 is fitted at a proper position oftwo sides of the deck 20 and connected to the power supply (not shown)of the servomotor 42. This limit switch 27 is used to limit the maximalelevating angle of the deck 20 when the folding bars 46 are elevated tothe preset height and in contact therewith.

[0026] Moreover, an auxiliary folding assembly 50 including two parallelconnection bars 51 and a movable support 52 is pivotably connected tothe slide shaft 44. One end of the connection bars 51 is pivotablyconnected to the slide shaft 44 while the movable support 52 is fixed atthe other end of the connection bars 51 and serves as a component havingthe sliding feature, allowing the movable support 52 to slide with theslide shaft 44 between the base bars 12 of the main frame 10. When thedeck 20 folds up, the movable support 52 of the auxiliary foldingassembly 50 is permanently situated behind the center of gravity of thedeck 20. Accordingly, the deck 20 folds up more smoothly.

[0027] Many changes and modifications in the above-described embodimentof the invention can, of course, be carried out without departing fromthe scope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the progress in science andthe useful arts, the invention is disclosed and is intended to belimited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An elevating apparatus of an exercise treadmillfor temporary storage or for use during an exercise session comprisingan elevating apparatus between a main frame and a deck, said deck havinga running bed and a running belt and being interposed between two basebars of said main frame, a deck transmission assembly being mounted onsaid deck; wherein said elevating apparatus utilizes a servomotor todrive a transmission spindle into rotation by means of a gearbox,thereby driving a slide shaft to move to and fro between two base barsof said main frame, and at least two lift shafts are pivotably connectedto one end of said slide shafts while the other end thereof is pivotablyconnected to folding bars, and either folding bar is L-shaped andincludes a first, a second and a third pivoting members while said firstpivoting member is pivotally mounted on said deck, said second pivotingmember is pivotally mounted on said main frame and said third pivotingmember is selectively pivotally attached to said deck by means of alatch, and wherein when said third pivoting member is separated fromsaid deck, said elevating apparatus will perform an elevating action tobe located at an inclined position, and when said third pivoting memberis positioned in said pivoting hole of said deck, said elevatingapparatus will perform a folding action to be located at a substantiallyupright position.
 2. The elevating apparatus of an exercise treadmill asclaimed in claim 1, wherein an electronic sensor is provided at saidpivoting hole of said deck and is connected to the power supply systemof the main motor, and when said electronic sensor is touched by alatch, said main motor will be immediately switched off.
 3. Theelevating apparatus of an exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 1,wherein a limit switch is fitted at a proper position of two sides ofsaid deck and connected to the power supply of the servomotor, and saidlimit switch is used to limit the maximal elevating angle of said deckwhen said folding bars are elevated to the preset height and in contacttherewith.
 4. The elevating apparatus of an exercise treadmill asclaimed in claim 1, wherein an auxiliary folding assembly including twoparallel connection bars and a movable support is pivotably connected tosaid slide shaft, and one end of said connection bars is pivotablyconnected to said slide shaft while said movable support is fixed at theother end of said connection bars, thereby allowing said movable supportto slide with said slide shaft between said base bars of said mainframe, and when said deck folds up, said movable support is permanentlysituated behind the center of gravity of said deck.